As I said, Adam Beach isn't a bad match for Tom Kalmaku facially. He's a lot better than having some random white, Asian, or Latino guy play the role.
For more on the Green Lantern movie, see Adam Beach to Play Tom Kalmaku? For more on the subject of non-Natives playing Natives, see A Brief History of "Redface" and The Best Indian Movies.
5 comments:
I don't see a match, but...
"He's a lot better than having some random white, Asian, or Latino guy play the role."
...True! (Obviously.)
I could see the casting director pulling a move like that, and an ASIAN landing this role. Because, you know, those circumpolar Indigenous people and their "Asiatic appearances" (as I've heard many a non note on occasion)... *rolls eyes*
""He's a lot better than having some random white, Asian, or Latino guy play the role."
Ah well, Random White Guy did not get the part. Maybe he needs to hire another agent.
Um, you know "Latinos" are actually descended from indigenous people of the americas right? You do know what mestizo means?
Anonymous:
That is a common misconception, as not all of them are. 'Latino' isn't even a race or ethnicity. Most importantly, though, it doesn't matter; one must be tribally-affiliated and have a real, lived experience and knowledge of their culture to be Native. It's what separates us from all the white, black, etc. people that always claim "Indian blood" or Native ancestry.
I know many Latinos are descended from the indigenous people of the Americas. And...so? That puts them in a related but different category from Natives.
When filmmakers can't find Native actors--probably because they haven't tried--Latinos are usually a good second choice. But in this case, Tom Kalmaku is far removed from Latinos geographically, culturally, and biologically. You could argue he's more closely related to Asians than he is to Latinos.
M. is right that people should have a tribal affiliation and a "real, lived experience and knowledge of their culture" to be considered Native. That's why an Inuit actor would be the best choice to play this Inuit character.
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